Question

Explain water that vanishes out of an open container in terms of the kinetic molecular theory of matter

Answer 1

According to the kinetic molecular theory of matter, all particles in a substance are in constant motion. In the case of an open container of water, the water molecules are constantly moving and colliding with each other and the walls of the container. Some of these water molecules have enough kinetic energy to escape from the surface of the water and enter the surrounding atmosphere. This process is known as evaporation.

As more and more water molecules evaporate, the overall mass of water in the container decreases, eventually leading to the container becoming empty if left open for a sufficient amount of time. This phenomenon occurs because the water molecules at the surface of the water have a higher average kinetic energy than those in the bulk of the liquid, allowing them to overcome the intermolecular forces holding them in the liquid state and escape into the atmosphere.

In summary, the disappearance of water from an open container can be explained by the kinetic molecular theory of matter, which describes the movement and behavior of particles in a substance. In this case, the process of evaporation leads to the water molecules escaping from the container and into the surrounding atmosphere, gradually decreasing the amount of water in the container.